by means of such things that we earn heaven, and when we go there we shall rejoice forever. Say to him when he is lying sick in bed: be patient, my friend; what a beautiful crown this will gain for you in heaven! Tell him about the riches and treasures of heaven when he has suffered some loss. If he is put to shame or confusion before the world, speak to him of the high honor that the saints enjoy in heaven. If he mourns the death of a dear friend, tell him of the company of the elect that the deceased enjoys in the next world, and so forth: and see how he will take your exhortations. He will answer you with sighs and groans, and if you still continue to try to console him in that way, he will turn his back on you in disgust. So little impression can such thoughts make on him. And why should we wonder at that? These subjects have hitherto hardly ever entered into bis cold and tepid heart; rarely, if ever, has he thought seriously of heaven, and therefore the subject is an insipid one to him. But if you wish to give a consolation that he will eagerly accept, I will tell you what to do: tell him that he has just been left heir to some thousands; after shedding a few tears to the memory of his departed friend, tears that he will soon forget, he will feel quite cousoled for the loss he has suffered. Bring him a document from the court to show that he has been raised to some honorable position, and he will think no more of the shame he was put to. Speak to him of his approaching marriage, or of some pleasant companions, and his melancholy will soon disappear. So easily do we console ourselves in this miserable world with fresh miseries.
Hence they do not believe in heaven, or do not desire it. O heaven of joys! what immense treasures thou hast! but in this case thou canst do little or nothing. Small is the trouble or labor we undergo for thy sake; little do we think of thee; we have no pleasure or comfort in thee, and what must necessarily follow, our faith in thee is very weak! Holy Prophet David! well hast thou spoken of those men when thou didst compare them to the dumb beast that has no understanding or power of reflection: “Man, when he was in honor did not understand;” when he was invited to eternal honor he did not understand: “He is compared to senseless beasts and is become like to them,”[1] to beasts that have no other pleasure but to have plenty of corn and hay to eat. An eternal heaven is offered to any one who wishes
- ↑ Homo cum in honore esset, non intellexit: comparatus est jumentis insipientibus, et similis factus est illis.—Ps. xlviii. 13.
